Still too early for cloud: expert

Cloud computing has been the buzz of the IT industry for years, yet the technology is still too fresh to trust, according to one expert.

Steve Prentice, VP and research fellow for industry analysts Gartner, says with CEOs expecting IT departments to deliver growth without additional expenditure, it is extremely tempting for CIOs and IT managers to give in to the cloud hype.

However, with data loss 'an inevitability,' people shouldn't give in if they have even the smallest of doubts.

"It is still too early to start putting critical information into a public cloud," Prentice says.

"In 30 years I never saw anything with so much hype and so much inertia as cloud.

Prentice says standards for cloud computing need to be set, so that all parties understand their responsibilities. An industry team of over 100 people have been working on a cloud 'code of practice' since September, with a draft expected in the next few months.

Once such standards are in place, it will still be better to start with data that is not overly sensitive or mission-critical.

"If a cloud provider goes bust, they'll just pull the plug, and your data will disappear into a virtual skip, or into your competitors' hands.

Prentice is especially wary of low-cost cloud services, and services on long contracts, which could become more expensive due to variables like electricity prices.

"The shorter you can keep contracts the better.

Prentice made the comments at the Gartner Predicts 2012 industry insight presentation in Auckland today. He also touched on cybercrime, saying it is important to be aware of the speed with which the threat landscape changes, and IT budgets, predicting that technology expenditure will be drawn outside the IT department as separate divisions opt to choose their own solutions.

"These will all be self-optimised, but they won't connect, and the IT department will be called in to glue it all back together.